The winter winds blow hard and cold on the limbs of NFL coaching trees.

The Belichick tree is a great example of the damage winters without "Ws" inflict. Scott Pioli, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels and Rob Ryan left New England's Super Bowl nest with dreams that hit heavy weather.

The branches of the Ozzie Newsome tree have been more durable, perhaps, but not storm proof. Defensive coaches on Baltimore's 2000 Super Bowl team who became top men include Marvin Lewis (secure in Cincinnati), Mike Smith (on the rocks in Atlanta), Jack Del Rio (fired after a long run with the Jaguars) and Rex Ryan.

The most conspicuous branch from the two trees named here, Ryan, could get sawed off by the Browns.

Ryan's minute-man runs to AFC title games in his first two years as head coach of the Jets, 2009 and 2010, unfolded a New York eternity ago.

The Jets' record since then is 20-26, including 6-8 in 2013. That's not nearly as bad as the Browns' record since Rex's twin Rob washed out with the Mangini regime.

It's bad enough for Rex to be in serious trouble, a week after he and Rob celebrated their 50th birthdays.

As he prepares for Sunday's game against the Browns, Rex relates easily to Rob's days in Cleveland. Back then, one twin was the toast of the Big Apple; the other was making Ohioans laugh as a blustery Browns coordinator.

"This T.J. Ward... that's a hitter," Rex said during a conversation about the 2013 Browns. "My brother loved him. T.J. Ward and (Ahtyba) Rubin ... they turned out to be outstanding players. I know that when my brother was in Cleveland, he just raved about them."

A month after Rob was hired in Cleveland in 2009, the Browns traded tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay. Later in the year, they shipped Braylon Edwards to Rex's Jets.

In an odd progression, Rex's team brought in former high draft picks from Cleveland in 2013. Edwards was signed on July 25 and released on Aug. 26. Wideout Mohamed Massaquoi was signed on Aug. 22 and released nine days later. Quarterback Brady Quinn was signed on Sept. 2 and let go on Oct. 21.

Winslow was signed on June 14 and will suit up against the Browns Sunday.

"Obviously," Ryan said, "he's not the player he was in Cleveland. If he wasn't the best receiving tight end in football then, he was in the conversation. He's still good."

The Browns haven't often had the best of anything, but wideout Josh Gordon has emerged.

"Yikes," Ryan said of the 22-year-old wideout. "He's scary. His run after catch ... that's crazy.

"The guy misses two games and still leads the league in yards? And it doesn't matter who the quarterback is. The kid makes a ton of plays."

Page 2 of 2 - Rex Ryan's chances to stay on as head coach are tied to the theory rookie quarterback Geno Smith can break through next year. The Browns looked at Smith but opted to postpone drafting a QB until 2014.

"Adapting to this league is not easy for a rookie quarterback," Ryan said. "You're seeing coverages you've never seen before.

"Geno had to get used to the three-step, five-step and seven-step drops. Protecting the ball was certainly an issue.

"Marty Mornhinweg, our offensive coordinator, talks about avoiding interceptions all the time. But you don't want him to be so afraid of throwing the ball that you don't pull the trigger.

"Unfortunately, we've had a lot of turnovers, and a lot returned for touchdowns."

Smith might be facing a Browns secondary without Joe Haden, who is nursing a hip pointer.

"Joe is a rare guy ... a Pro Bowl corner," Ryan said. "If it's all up to me. For Christmas ... I think he should take a week off.

"I like the other kid ... that dude can fly. This Buster (Skrine) ... I don't know how to pronounce his last name, but he can fly. I don't know where they got that kid."

Skrine was a fifth-round pick out of Chattanooga in 2011.

It might be time for Ryan to fly.

He hasn't been through as much quarterback chaos as Cleveland, but close. This year, Quinn was part of a cast of thousands factored in. Last year, the Tim Tebow circus blew through.

The trouble started when Ryan began consorting with his brother's old team. In order to get the No. 5 overall pick of the 2009 draft and spend it on Mark Sanchez, the Jets had to send the Browns a No. 17 overall pick (eventually parlayed into center Alex Mack) and a No. 52 overall pick (used on David Veikune), along with veterans Kenyon Coleman, Abe Elam and Brett Ratliff.

By 2012, Sanchez's passer rating had dipped to 66.9, well below the 72.6 posted by Browns rookie Brandon Weeden.

As 2013 expires, the Jets are coming off a loss at Carolina, after which Ryan said, "I felt like I got kicked in the head."

A few days later, he said he isn't thinking about getting the boot.

"I've never been the priority," Ryan said. "My focus is ... let's get ready for Cleveland."